G.A.H.A. Announcements

From Gilmer Arts & Heritage Association:

Hurry on down to GAHA at 207 Dalton street to visit The Garden Club of Ellijay’s flower show. “The Poetry of Flowers” show will be open to the public at no cost today from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The ladies have done an outstanding job. Please don’t miss this unique opportunity to view their work!

We are still looking for students to join our Kids Summer Drama Camp which will begin July 6 and run through July 17 for youth ages 7 to 13. For more information or to sign up, call GAHA at 706-635-5605.

If you are in town Saturday visiting the Flower Show, you might also want to take up the invitation extended by GAHA Board Member Gin Roberts to see landscape and wildlife prints and originals by artist Larry Dodson. She invites members to drop by a show of his art work from 11 am - 2 pm Saturday at Trevor's on the roundabout. Mr. Dodson is from Trenton, Georgia. One of his pieces is entitled "Springtime in Ellijay."

To those of you who have already renewed your membership for this year, thank you. For those who have not, we need you! Please contact us about joining today. A membership form is attached.

Don't Miss 4th of July in Ellijay!

Start making your plans for the 4^th of July in Gilmer County. The Dedicated Ellijay Merchants and Associates (D.E.M.A.) is again sponsoring the annual 4^th of July Parade at 10:00 a.m. through downtown Ellijay. This is a great opportunity to join in the fun of celebrating Independence Day. Whether you want to just view the parade or want to bring your 4-wheeler, motorcycle, antique car, float or just walk you can be a part of this great event.

D.E.M.A. is also sponsoring a community marching band that you can participate in. If you want to participate in the band or parade call Kathy Robinson at 706.635.2782 for more information.

D.E.M.A. will also sponsors Arts Around the Square starting at 10:00 a.m. on the 4^th.

Fireworks will start at dusk and can be viewed from downtown.

For more information on all activities downtown visit www.downtownellijay.org.

Up-dated Activities Calendar

Here is an up-dated activities calendar for June/July:

· Gilmer Farmers Market: Every Saturday morning starting at 8:00 am located at the Farm Bureau Parking Lot on River Street in Ellijay. New vendors are welcome. Booth fees are only $5.00 per season. Plants and seasonal vegetables as well as homemade jams, jellies, relishes, etc are in good supply.

· Pickin’ on the Square: Every Friday evening from 6:00 pm until about 9:00 pm the square in downtown Ellijay comes alive with bluegrass, country, rock and gospel music. Bring your instrument and “jam” with local musicians or just come to listen.

· Cherry Log Pickin’: Every Thursday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Whitepath Fire Staton #11 on Whitepath Rd., just behind the Blue Ridge Auto Auction on Hwy 515. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music.

· June 25^th: Ellijay Mountain Bike Association weekly ride. 6:30 p.m. at the Carter’s Lake Woodring Branch. 5026 Woodring Branch Rd. Chatsworth, Ga. Contact club president, Gail Kirkman for additional information (www.Gail.Kirkman@ventyx.com).

· June 26^th: Pickin’ on the Porch, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the General Store, just outside of the Eagle Mountain Gate of the Coosawattee River Resort. Bring your lawn chair & enjoy the music.

· June 30^th: Ellijay Mountain Bike Association monthly “eat & meet”. 6:30 p.m. at Charlie’s Restaurant on Maddox Dr., Ellijay, Ga. Come help plan the next bike race. Contact club president, Gail Kirkman for additional information (www.Gail.Kirkman@ventyx.com).

· July 4^th: DEMA 4^th of July Parade 10:00 am downtown Ellijay. Amazing Duck Race after parade. Fireworks begin at dusk. Contact Kathy Robinson 706/635-2782 if you are interested in participating in the marching band or the parade.

Arts Around the Square 10:00 am www.downtownellijay.org.

· July 11^th: The Martyn House “Farm to Table Dinner” presents Heather Antonelli, author of “Haute n the Kitchen” as their guest chef. Dinners begin at 6:00 pm. Reservations can be booked online at www.themartynhouse.com.

· July 11th: Pickin’ on the Porch, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the General Store, just outside of the Eagle Mountain Gate of the Coosawattee River Resort. Bring your lawn chair & enjoy the music.

· July 25^th : Pickin’ on the Porch, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the General Store, just outside of the Eagle Mountain Gate of the Coosawattee River Resort. Bring your lawn chair & enjoy the music.

· Southeastern Bluegrass Association: The Cherry Log chapter SEBA meets on the fourth Saturday (except December) from 3 pm until 6 pm at the Cherry Log Christian Church. Contact Al or Dana Henderson at 706-635-3786 for additional information.

If you have an activity you want published just email me at mjholstein@ccim.net with the details.

BOC Chairman's Report

Here is the Board of Commissioners Chairman's Report for the week of June 22, 2009:

Last week I received a letter from the Commissioner and Chief Engineer of the Georgia DOT. The subject of the letter is “Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) and State Aid Grant Programs”. The LARP program is for repaving county roads. State Aid Grant Programs are for improving and widening gravel roads to be paved. I’ll hit some of the highlights from the letter: “the Department will not have sufficient funds in fiscal year 2010 to award any grants” and “2009 LARP was cancelled due to financial shortfalls. Fortunately, the Department’s FY 2010 does include funds to support LARP”. The letter goes on to say that I’ll receive another letter telling me to submit for the LARP and “to emphasize that this letter does not guarantee funding”. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and make sure that all funding opportunities are aggressively pursued, but the tone of the letter isn’t promising.

May was a somewhat quiet month for our Fire-Rescue department. Totals are: 3 structure fires, 3 brush fires, 14 motor vehicle crashes, and 178 medical calls. The new stations are working out very well for improved response time. However, over the weekend we experienced a rash of mechanical problems with the Ford ambulances. I want to thank Pickens County EMS for helping us out several times.

We continue to receive a mixed bag of calls regarding “dust control”. This practice, which is the application of chemicals to gravel roads, was eliminated from the budget this year. We have received many positive compliments about the discontinuance. Comments have ranged from “it stank” and “it killed my flowers” to “it wouldn’t wash off my car”. However, some folks have serious respiration problems and grew to rely on the dust control for easier breathing. We had a “free sample” of another type of dust control chemical, liquefied calcium chloride, which apparently has no residue issues. So far it looks like it would be less expensive also. Unlike the oil like substance previously used, calcium chloride actually improves the chemical composition of the aggregate base in the road and enhances the moisture retention qualities of the road. I recently rode one of the areas that got the sample, and it had that “wet” look and did not put up dust weeks after the application and days after rain. We will look into this closer in the near future, and will probably apply a small amount in the areas where folks have breathing problems and the homes are close to the road.

There is much interest in the golf course with many individuals favoring a change in the management firm operating the course, and many individuals supporting the current management firm. While no decision has been made on the future management of the golf course, it should be noted that the Board does have until October to exercise the annual termination provision, should that decision be made. A workshop will be held later this summer or early fall on the subject at which time the Board will invite informed discussion of the matter by the public. The public should know that we have not let any deadlines pass that would jeopardize the County’s position in handling the matter according to the provisions of the lease.

As always, feel free to contact me by email (mchastain@gilmercounty-ga.gov) or by calling the BOC office at 706-635-4361. Comments can be left on 706-515-2320.

Eggs, Issues & Education

The Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce sponsored an Eggs & Issues forum on June 23^rd in the community room of the Gilmer County Bank. North Georgia Medical Center provided the food and the topic was “education”. Invited speakers included Randy Parsons, Superintendent of Gilmer County Schools; Dr. Sanford Chandler, President of Chattahoochee Technical College; and Dr. John Schwenn, President of Dalton State College. Here is a recap of their comments:

Randy Parsons, Superintendent of Gilmer County Schools, commended both Chattahoochee Technical College and Dalton State College for their dedication to Gilmer County and their post secondary educational programs. He stressed that Gilmer County School System is looking for ways to augment the traditional method of teaching to include different opportunities for students to learn. Included will be opportunities in “electronic” learning methods with on-line classes and video conferencing. He also emphasized that the graduation rate has substantially increased. Superintendent Parsons stated, “Our graduation rate has increased to 88% from 50%, only a few years back”. He also emphasized that “the school system is in an economic crisis. Although the new expense budget will be a slight decrease from the previous year, the impact of decreased funding from the State and other sources will result in a drop in funding of over one million dollars next year.” Mr. Parsons further stated that “they need to be more efficient in their spending but some programs such as school nurses, driver’s education and middle school sports are on the line”. He added that Gilmer County taxpayers should expect about a 1 mil increase in property taxes as a result of funding cuts.

Dr. Sanford Chandler, President of Chattahoochee Technical College reported on the merger between Appalachian Technical College, Chattahoochee Tech. & North Metro Technical College. Dr. Chandler emphasized that even though the merger had taken place Appalachian Tech would retain its name. He also emphasized that the merger is complete and was very successful. He said “we are one college with multiple campuses and a community focus.” They now serve over 10,000 students and six counties with over 100 programs designed to put students into the workforce with excellent education and training. Dr. Chandler wanted the citizens of Gilmer County to know that “they are strengthening their focus on education in the community”. He said “starting in the fall, they will offer college level classes in Algebra, English and Psychology at Gilmer High School. This will be in addition to the adult education classes and G.E.D. preparation they already offer at their Gilmer Adult Education Center. Dr. Chandler also indicated that they will offer more classes on-line, making Chattahoochee Tech available to more students.

Dr. John Schwenn, President of Dalton State College said “their program at the Gilmer Campus has been wildly successful and beyond expectations”. During their first semester (spring) they enrolled 176 students at the Gilmer Campus. There are 152 students attending the summer semester. Thus far they have registered 193 students for the fall semester, 116 of which are residents of Gilmer County. The oldest student attending is 79 years. This fall they will have 29 classes at the Gilmer Campus. One major issue is finding qualified faculty to teach. Their faculty members must meet their accreditation standards.

Dalton State College provides a two year Associate Degree Program in Gilmer County and that prepares the students to transfer to any accredited college or university. Dr. Schween also emphasized that they are looking at programs for retirees. He said, “Gilmer County attracts retirees and we want to provide adequate opportunities for them to enroll in programs of interest”. Being a part of the community is also of great importance to Dalton State. They have already formed local softball teams and are considering grants for performing arts on the Gilmer Campus.

All three speakers emphasized the challenges of funding in “these economic times”, but all three also emphasized their institutions commitment to providing quality education to the citizens of Gilmer County.